AP | By SELCAN HACAOGLU

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey's government said Wednesday it is prepared to grant more rights to the nation's Kurds in an effort to end the 25-year insurgency by Kurdish rebels.

The Associated Press | ANNE GEARAN (AP National Security Writer)

ABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (AP) — A combat brigade of 5,000 American troops may be brought home early from Iraq if the trend of reduced violence holds, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Wednesday.

The Times | timesonline.co.uk

The Kurdish leader proposing to end a 25-year-long conflict with Turkey that has cost 30,000 lives believes his peace offer is a once in a generation opportunity that must be grasped by both sides.

KIRKUK, Iraq (AFP) — Ten Iraqi policemen were killed when a massive car bomb tore through a bus in the northern city of Kirkuk on Wednesday underscoring the fragility of recent security gains.

The Kurdish region of Iraq has seen gains in human rights, but security forces "regularly abuse their authority" and women continue to be targets of violence, Amnesty International said Tuesday.

Bbc.co.uk

Security forces in the Iraq's northern Kurdish provinces are operating "beyond the rule of law", a report by Amnesty International has warned.

BAGHDAD (AFP) — Iraq's oil minister penalised two South Korean oil firms on Thursday, banning them from taking part in Iraqi tenders after they signed a billion-dollar contract with the Kurd regional government.

Kurdishrights.org | 4 April 2009

Protests broke out in the city of Agri in the mostly Kurdish region of Turkey when it was announced that 3000 votes had been voided during the elections last weekend. Supporters of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party protested the discarding of votes after their party lost the city elections by a very close margin to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The Associated Press | 4 April 2009

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkish news agencies say a Kurdish demonstration turned deadly in southeast Turkey as police clashed with thousands of protesters trying to reach the village of an imprisoned Kurdish rebel chief to mark his 60th birthday.

Cnn.com | By Ivan Watson

ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) -- Forty-eight hours after a harrowing distress call from a helicopter crash survivor in the mountains of eastern Turkey, Turkey's interior minister said Friday that rescuers have finally discovered the wreckage.